Parents urged to keep one kind of toy away from children as it 'poses severe hazard'

Parents urged to keep one kind of toy away from children as it 'poses severe hazard' Parents have been urged to keep a certain kind of toy away from their children as it poses a "severe hazard". The alert comes as people start thinking ahead to Christmas Parents have been urged to stop giving their children a certain toy after an important alert was issued. If your little one has one in their toy box, you may need to dispose of it quickly, as there are some dangers you may not be aware of. It's key parenting advice to be clued up on ahead of Christmas, as parents are likely already looking for toys to buy for their children; however, some could pose serious risks. To help people out, a health visitor has shared some expert advice on the topic to help make parents more knowledgeable. It's not the only alert on toys to have been issued. Previously, parents were also warned about another potential dangerous toy. The toy to avoid Regarding the toy, Ruth Watts, a health visitor, said: "Official safety alerts have been issued around toys that contain these water beads inside, especially for younger children. Now, my daughter has this in her sensory box, and a lot of older children likely do have some of these squishy toys, but they pose potentially a severe, fatal risk. "Not only do these beads increase the risk of choking hazards, but they also can absorb up to 400 times the amount of water, which means they will expand inside your child. So, when expanded, they can block intestines, they can block stomachs, they can cause severe bowel obstruction that then frequently require major emergency surgery. "Some of them can also contain higher levels of dangerous chemicals. This isn't a risk we want to be worth taking, especially with younger children around, especially when they put things in their mouth." Showing what the toys can look like, Ruth explained that little ones often explore with heir mouths, and noted the toys could look "quite intriguing" to them. If they swallow them, it could be very dangerous. She added: "So, please, it is an urgent appeal to get rid of toys that have water beads inside of them." The video has triggered a lot of conversation. Many thanked Ruth for the advice, and said they would be putting any they can find in the bin. In seems some didn't know they could be so problematic. Ensure our latest headlines always appear at the top of your Google Search by making us a Preferred Source. Click here to activate or add us as a Preferred Source in your Google search settings. What you need to know Advice was previously issued on the Government website about water beads. It reads: "The Office for Product Safety and Standards (OPSS) has issued a Safety Alert to warn of the risks that water beads can pose to children and vulnerable adults. This follows action taken by OPSS to remove unsafe products from the market. "The Safety Alert advises that water beads should be kept away from young children, under 5 years of age, and only used with older children or vulnerable adults under close supervision. "Water beads are beads that can expand up to 400 times their original size when exposed to liquid. They are marketed for various purposes, including for use as toys, in crafting, as home decor or in floristry. "They are sold under a variety of names including, but not limited to, jelly balls, water balls, sensory beads or water crystals. When swallowed, water beads expand and can block the gastrointestinal passage which can then require surgery. "The beads can also cause choking and have harmed children in the UK, with reports linking them to deaths overseas. Water beads can be difficult to detect and do not show up in x-ray. "If it is suspected that a water bead has been swallowed, medical help should be sought immediately."